Butte, Montana used to be the most profitable corner of the United States. Wander along the streets of downtown and it’s easy to imagine what Butte was like in its heyday when the The Copper King Mansion became its crown jewel. The mansion, still a jewel,  is now a museum and a bed and breakfast.

The Copper King Mansion, once the most expensive real estate in Butte.

 This majestic red brick Victorian-style house gives a nod to the era of Butte’s mining history and the wealth of  William Andrews Clark. Clark, who had the mansion built between 1884 and 1888, accrued his fortune when mining boomed in Butte.

Clark’s life was recently chronicled in a recent msnbc.com article on his daughter Huegette–a wealthy recluse without any offspring. If you stay at the Copper King Mansion Bed and Breakfast, you can stay in Huegette’s room as one choice.

The mansion is exquisite. Clark knew art and beauty and made sure he surrounded his family and himself with it. Fortunately, although the family did not stay robust, the mansion remains glorious. It’s one of my favorite stops in Butte when we go there each summer.

Master bedroom suite where wealth slept

As a guest of the bed and breakfast, you can take a guided tour of the rest of the house for free.  Here is an opportunity to be part of an unusual slice of American history while basking in beauty. Perhaps some of Clark’s money making smarts will rub off when you slumber. The master bedroom suite is one of the overnight options.

In addition to the Copper King Mansion, there’s plenty to see in Butte and it remains one of my favorite destinations.

219 W. Granite St.
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 782-7580

Photos courtesy of The Copper King Mansion

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